German politicians want "British blackmail" rejected

German politicians want "British blackmail" rejected

BERLIN -- With his threat that Britain might leave the EU if Jean-Claude Juncker is made head of the EC, David Cameron seems to have angered German politicians.

They asked Chancellor Angela Merkel not to give in to the "blackmail" coming from London and confirm her support for the former prime minister of Luxembourg.

Hans-Peter Uhl, an expert on foreign policy from the CSU, the "sister" party of Merkel's CDU - whose deputies are most numerous in the new European Parliament - suggested that after the statement made by the British prime minister, the possibility of isolating Britain should also be taken into consideration.

"If the British are thinking about their own way and want to leave the EU, then, please," Uhl was quoted as saying by the German media over the weekend, and adding that it would be bad for the EU, but even more so for the British.

The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is also urging Merkel to present a clear position on Juncker and not give in to pressure from London in a dispute over the future head of the European Commission (EC).

SPD group head in the German parliament Thomas Oppermann said he "saw no reason why Juncker should not be the head of the European Commission."

He added that EU treaties do not give any veto powers to the United Kingdom. The party's Secretary General Yasmin Fahimi reacted in a similar manner, asking Merkel to act with determination.

She said it would be "a farce" if Europe would allow "blackmail by a person who does not understand Europe and works against European success" for the sake of his "national profile."

Former Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich...